diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 4f57481..ad3a2b4 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ endif
 include_HEADERS = strophe.h
 noinst_HEADERS = strophepp.h
 
-pkgconfigdir = $(libdir)/pkgconfig
 pkgconfig_DATA = libstrophe.pc
 
 EXTRA_DIST = docs
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 461248e..e3b9a0a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -86,6 +86,14 @@ fi
 
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([arpa/nameser_compat.h])
 
+
+m4_ifdef([PKG_INSTALLDIR], [PKG_INSTALLDIR],
+        [AC_ARG_WITH([pkgconfigdir],
+                [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-pkgconfigdir],
+                        [install directory for libstrophe.pc pkg-config file])],
+                [],[with_pkgconfigdir='$(libdir)/pkgconfig'])
+        AC_SUBST([pkgconfigdir], [${with_pkgconfigdir}])])
+
 AM_CONDITIONAL([PARSER_EXPAT], [test x$with_parser != xlibxml2])
 
 AC_SUBST([PC_REQUIRES], [${PC_REQUIRES[[@]]}])